Player Watch #16 Josh Smillie

[tigerfan1961]

Everyone needs to lower their expectations re: Smillie.
1) Young players need 2-3 full pre-seasons before they hit peak fitness. I expect it won't be until 2027 before we see anything other than a cameo from Smillie in the midfield.
2) He's got potential, but he's done nothing yet. Don't assume he's a modern-day Bont or Cripps. He could be another RCD for all we know.

He could be great. He could be a bust. We'll see.

Zero chance he’s another RCD, zero! Smillie was a bonafide star mid at junior level (was rated the best player in the draft for a lot of his final year at the level) who has had growing pains at age 18 as he continued to grow. He won’t have lost any of the traits that made him the player he was as a junior. He will be a very very good player when he gets his body right, which he will.

 

[lalorGOAT]

Zero chance he’s another RCD, zero! Smillie was a bonafide star mid at junior level (was rated the best player in the draft for a lot of his final year at the level) who has had growing pains at age 18 as he continued to grow. He won’t have lost any of the traits that made him the player he was as a junior. He will be a very very good player when he gets his body right, which he will.

And also copping heavy tags since vfl debut. I don't even think that other vfl clubs knew rcd's name.

 

[energyquant]

Zero chance he’s another RCD, zero! Smillie was a bonafide star mid at junior level (was rated the best player in the draft for a lot of his final year at the level) who has had growing pains at age 18 as he continued to grow. He won’t have lost any of the traits that made him the player he was as a junior. He will be a very very good player when he gets his body right, which he will.

I certainly hope you are right, but the odds are stacked against him. I love watching Cripps, Bont, Pendlebury and a few others (Tom Green, Luke Jackson) play midfield because they use their size to advantage in the contest and then have the speed / skill to turn the contested ball win into a high value possession. The fact that there have been just a handful of players like this over the last 10 years tells you how hard it is to find one.

 

[tigerfan1961]

I certainly hope you are right, but the odds are stacked against him. I love watching Cripps, Bont, Pendlebury and a few others (Tom Green, Luke Jackson) play midfield because they use their size to advantage in the contest and then have the speed / skill to turn the contested ball win into a high value possession. The fact that there have been just a handful of players like this over the last 10 years tells you how hard it is to find one.

I just think his record throughout his junior career was outstanding and he was always touted as a top end draft pick. He’s not quick, but he’s not slow either, and I don’t think any of the players you’ve mentioned are overly quick either. Looks like he’s a natural footballer who just needs to settle into his body.
Time will tell, but once he bulks up a little, and he’s got some size already, he will come to the fore and be a fantastic player in combination with other kids we have drafted for midfield duties the last few years.
Just in my opinion of course.

 

[tropicaltiger]

Rumours at punt road, kam macintosh is back in town to do some odd jobs at Josh Smillie's parents joint..... first assignment is to make all doorways 6 inches higher and remove all the ceiling fans

 

[tropicaltiger]

We’re milking this for all it’s worth like a kid has never grown a centimetre before

I heard Dick Clay once say
"when i was a teenager i grew six inches in 6 months"......

and also got a lot taller too

 

[THE_GUN]

I certainly hope you are right, but the odds are stacked against him. I love watching Cripps, Bont, Pendlebury and a few others (Tom Green, Luke Jackson) play midfield because they use their size to advantage in the contest and then have the speed / skill to turn the contested ball win into a high value possession. The fact that there have been just a handful of players like this over the last 10 years tells you how hard it is to find one.

Cripps / Bont / Pendles are not fast and i wouldnt mind betting Smillie is as quick if not faster
Doubt either of Green or jackson would be that much faster either

 

[G String]

And also copping heavy tags since vfl debut. I don't even think that other vfl clubs knew rcd's name.

Smillie was getting smashed in the vfl - I was at the hawthorn game in frankston and the hawks put A LOT of work into him. The umpires didn't help - they let a lot of stuff go.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Smillie was getting smashed in the vfl - I was at the hawthorn game in frankston and the hawks put A LOT of work into him. The umpires didn't help - they let a lot of stuff go.

I knew we should have gone the knuckle in that game.

 

[UncleBob]

Everyone really needs to lower their expectations of him being the next Pendles, Bont etc... the poor kid can't even kick a footy anymore

 

[THE_GUN]

 

[Mr Magic]

I've mentioned concerns about his height for a while, yeah. I would rather he stop growing so it doesn't possibly hinder his midfield potential

don't know why obsessing with midfield

we want his best position and our team best team

 

[Sol23]

I certainly hope you are right, but the odds are stacked against him. I love watching Cripps, Bont, Pendlebury and a few others (Tom Green, Luke Jackson) play midfield because they use their size to advantage in the contest and then have the speed / skill to turn the contested ball win into a high value possession. The fact that there have been just a handful of players like this over the last 10 years tells you how hard it is to find one.

Why are the odds stacked against him?
Just because of his size?

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Everyone really needs to lower their expectations of him being the next Pendles, Bont etc... the poor kid can't even kick a footy anymore

Be devastating if he only reaches Pendlebury and Bont’s level.

 

[Boxo004]

Yeah but what does LOTW think about JS

 

[peternorth]

Stop with the comparisons with and to pendlebury. Smillie isn’t a basketballer

 

[Dr Tigris]

If the poor bugger actually ends up having a good year this thread will be an awesome re-read.

Hope when he starts kicking it's all good. Then we'll see if a 217cm guy can play midfield. if he can't maybe he can be a basketballer and then the commentators will be talking about how he was a footballers and that helped his game.

 

[Sir_Loin]

People forget chimp had a shocking couple years before he came good and look what happened

 

[RichoLedio]

People forget chimp had a shocking couple years before he came good and look what happened

What a wasted pick, could have had Rhys Palmer

 

[Grrr]

Smillie knocked 23 possessions half fit @ 50-60 percent game time in one of his 3 games. He’s a mid because he can find and can use it. It’s still 2025. Plenty of time

 

[Serenitylater]

People forget chimp had a shocking couple years before he came good and look what happened

We haven’t forgotten. We all could see he was going to be a star, at least I did. Smillie on the hand, I have my doubts. I never saw what some others did with him. To me he looks very vanilla with no major weapons.

 

[Sir_Loin]

We haven’t forgotten. We all could see he was going to be a star, at least I did. Smillie on the hand, I have my doubts. I never saw what some others did with him. To me he looks very vanilla with no major weapons.

What the heck are talking about. This kid is a 200cm midfielder. Once he grows into his body he’s going to be unstoppable

 

[Coach_Required]

What the heck are talking about. This kid is a 200cm midfielder. Once he grows into his body he’s going to be unstoppable

Nah only 195cm, too short to play mid i reckon.

 

[Dr Tigris]

We haven’t forgotten. We all could see he was going to be a star, at least I did. Smillie on the hand, I have my doubts. I never saw what some others did with him. To me he looks very vanilla with no major weapons.

Cool. I saw a kid who could easily be elite. Size, evasive, great skills and goes hard. Has a huge amount of development space as well.

We'll see what happens. Hopefully he's over his injuries and starts to kick butt.

 

[energyquant]

Why are the odds stacked against him?
Just because of his size?

Sort of.

There have been a very small number of regular AFL midfielders who are 193cm (6'4'') or taller. Let's say Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Bont, Cripps and Tom Green in the last 10 years. There have been many more small to medium midfielders in that time.

If Smillie is to make it as an AFL mid then he will need to be equivalent to one of the guys I've mentioned earlier. If he's not at that level, he'll be displaced by a smaller (more common) player.

Of course, Smillie could also play as a key forward or defender.